Predators brace for desperate Wings

DETROIT It’s not exactly a do-or-die scenario for the Detroit Red Wings. But if they lose Tuesday, they’ll be in a tough situation, down 3-1 and heading back to Nashville for Game 5 with the Predators having a chance to clinch the series.

With the Red Wings there are several positives to take into account. One is the fact they out-shot the Predators 32-13 in the final two periods of their losing effort in Game 3. The other is that they’re at home and hope to feed off the rabid Joe Louis Arena crowd.

“It should be a little desperation for sure. We have to win this game to get back in the series,” forward Tomas Holmstrom said. “You can talk as much as you want in the past, but you have to do it now, you have to do it today.”

The Predators are bracing for a fast start from Detroit. In a desperate situation, teams normally come out swinging, especially at home.

“I think it will be a good game right from the beginning. They finished off the game hard, we had the lead, we were maybe a little hesitant,” defenseman Ryan Suter said. “We have to learn from that you can’t sit back against teams like that.”

For the Predators, the key is to simply not focus on the next game, but this game.

“That’s what we are focused on now. We played a solid Game 3 in their building, which is always a tough place to play. It’s time to do it again, and that’s our main focus, to be in a good position going home,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said.